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An Old-Fashioned Coffee Klatch
Buying Bulk Coffee
Remember the old movie, "Cheaper by the Dozen"? The point was that quantity cut costs. Well, there are other "points" made in the movie of course, but you get my drift here. The fact is that you can save money by buying almost everything in larger quantities.
There is a good reason why this is true. Packaging costs decrease, transportation costs decrease, and handling costs decrease, so larger quantities of almost anything can be sold for a smaller unit cost than smaller quantities of the same item. And coffee is no exception to the rule.
The secret of buying in bulk and making it cost-effective is that you must store bulk coffee in an airtight container. Air is what degrades coffee, whether the coffee is in a whole bean form or has already been ground. You know that smaller quantities of coffee are packaged in vacuum containers. The reason that they are packed like that is for the purpose of preventing the air from degrading the coffee.
Storing coffee in the refrigerator isn't a good idea either. The best way to store coffee that has been bough in bulk is by using one of the airtight food sealing products that you can buy. There are many brands of this kind of product. The best known brand is called "Seal-a-Meal," but it isn't the only one out there.
When you buy coffee in bulk, you should seal it in portion sizes that are the best for you by using one of the airtight food sealing products and then store the packages in a cool, dark place to prevent degradation of the coffee flavor and freshness. After all, if you buy coffee in bulk to save money and then the coffee loses its flavor and freshness before you can use it, you really haven't saved any money at all.
See Also:
Coffee, Tea & Me
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Gourmet Coffee Gifts
Coffee Mugs
I love my coffee mug! I use it everyday. There isn't anything particularly fancy or special about my coffee mug, except that is my coffee mug and it holds enough coffee to actually do some good, unlike those itty bitty cups with the tiny little handles that my wife prefers. I hate those cups. My fingers get stuck in the handles and they don't hold enough coffee.
Not that I have ever paid a lot of attention to my coffee mug. It is just there every morning. I fill it up with coffee and carry it around with me from room to room as I prepare to go to work, or it sits within easy reach as I read my newspaper. It keeps the coffee hot for awhile, and I don't have to refill it but just occasionally.
Anyway, I got to thinking about the coffee mug and wondered who thought up the perfect design. I never did find out who the inventor of the coffee mug was, but it seems that the coffee mug is actually a "take-off" of the old beer stein. When you think about the two designs, they are certainly similar.
Coffee mugs are man-sized. The smallest ones hold 12 ounces, and there are coffee mugs that hold as much as 20 ounces. Coffee mugs have also been modernized. Old coffee mugs were either made of tin or ceramic. Today, there are plastic and stainless steel coffee mugs, and coffee mugs that are insulated. There are coffee mugs that are made for travel, too. There is a top that prevents the coffee from spilling even when the coffee mug is tipped over. That sounds like a good idea.
Maybe I'll go buy one that is insulted and made of space-age plastic with a top that prevents spills. |
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Is Coffee Good or Bad for You?
The question of whether coffee is good for humans or bad for humans all depends upon which of the many reports, research papers, and studies that you choose to believe. There has been a great deal of research, but certainly no consensus of agreement on the subject.
Some studies, reports, and research suggest that because coffee is a stimulant, and because it has been proven to be somewhat addictive, it is a bad thing. Coffee does increase the heart rate, but there has never been any proof of any kind that coffee contributes to heart disease or causes heart attacks. Coffee does stimulate the kidneys, but there has never been any proof that it contributes to kidney disease.
Other studies, reports, and research suggest that because coffee is a stimulant, it is a very good thing. Coffee is known to "relieve boredom, decrease depression, increase alertness, increase physical stamina, and increase performance on boring or repetitive tasks." Well, those things sound like rather positive aspects.
It is generally agreed that coffee -- or rather, the caffeine in coffee -- is somewhat addictive. Going "cold turkey" when giving up caffeine can cause some withdrawal symptoms, such as headache. Headache is the most common caffeine withdrawal symptom, but another symptom is grouchiness, which is not conducive to healthy personal relationships.
The bottom line here is that there just isn't any scientific information that firmly establishes whether coffee is good for you or bad for you. "Moderation in all things" is a good motto to live by. Drinking 25 cups of anything wouldn't likely be conducive to good health unless it was just pure water. Drink your coffee and enjoy every sip -- just don't drink too much of it.
Related Topics: Is Coffee Good or Bad for You,
Coffee with a Twist, Coffee Grinders
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